About this project

$28,221

pledged of $22,000 goal

353

backers

Updates!

$28,000+? This has been an amazing experience. We are so humbled by your contributions and support. As of now, we have a new tabletop roleplaying game to look forward to playing with friends, family, and fellow gamers. RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IS A REALITY!

Great job guys! Now let’s bring it home.

I am incredibly excited to announce RAIDERS of R’LYEH.

RAIDERS of R’LYEH is a stand-alone roleplaying game and sourcebook in which mercenary rogues EXPLORE FORBIDDEN FRONTIERS, UNEARTH ANCIENT ARTIFACTS, and OUTWIT VILLAINOUS SCUM. Derived partly from the Runequest rules that have been released under the Open Game License, the game is crafted to emulate not only adventure in the Cthulhu Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft and his circle of influences, but especially the savage and evocative feel of Robert E. Howard’s Mythos and Weird menace stories.

Attention has been made to keep the game mechanics compatible with other percentile systems — while innovating additional rulesets unique to the setting and atmosphere — so those players wishing only to use RAIDERS of R’LYEH as an Edwardian era adventure sourcebook will have a massive global setting to explore and use in their preexisting Mythos campaign, as well as modular adventure, monster and scenario resources for gaming in 1900-1913. Those players wanting a standalone rulebook with its adventure modes of play, will have a complete toolkit for interacting with the Cthulhu Mythos.

RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK & WHITE (PRINT AND PDF)

The PRINT EDITION (RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK & WHITE) is designed for players who want ALL of the rules in one convenient & beautful tome. NEW: NOW UPGRADED TO A HARDCOVER WITH SMYTH SEWN BINDING.

RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK & WHITE comes with EVERYTHING NEEDED TO PLAY THE GAME, including: the CORE RULES, the Adventurer Archetypes, the Keeper Section (How to Run the Game, How to Sandbox the Mythos, the Mythos and Monsters, Magic, Occultism & Sorcery, Patrons & Factions, Dozens of Adventure Templates), the 1910 Era Sourcebook (Travel, Weapons & Equipment Lists, Mounts, The Mythos & Weird in 1910, Hotspots, Name Lists, NPC Stats), and a Growing Appendix Full of Ruin Maps, Mansion Maps, Wilderness, Automobile & Road Stats, NPC Stats for Regions All Over the World, and more. Also available as a convenient PDF. ESTIMATED PAGE COUNT: 256 pages!

The core rules comes with a vast assortment of toolkits to build and run your own exploratory sandbox game set in the Mythos...

THE ADVENTURER’S GUIDE AND KEEPER’S GUIDE (AVAILABLE IN PDF)

Some people really like having their role-playing games split into two books, one for the keeper and one for the players. They like this so that players get one book with just the rules and setting material that pertains to them, while the keeper can have all of the monsters, secrets of the setting, adventure templates, magic and mysteries in his or her own book (out of the hands of spying adventurers). So we accommodated that preference with full color Adventurer (ie Player) and Keeper Guides!

THE ADVENTURER’S GUIDE contains everything players need to get themselves immersed in the age of empires, and then more to get them into deep trouble. Included are the easy-to-learn core rules, the Adventurer Archetypes, more occupations for the era, playable characters, etiquette of the era, dress and fashion, rumors of weird events & occult societies, and player’s 1910 sourcebook (newspaper clippings, weapons and equipment catalog, notes for combat, investigation and exploration, information about mounts and automobiles, travel guides, notes on sandbox play, and a collection of story hooks). Expected page count: 140 pages

THE KEEPER’S GUIDE contains everything keepers need to lure their players into adventure, danger, and hidden terrors. Included are the the Mythos and Monsters, Magic, Occultism & Sorcerery, Guide to the Occult in 1910, How to Run the Game, How to Sandbox the Mythos, Patrons & Factions, Adventure Templates & Traditional Scenarios, the 1910 Era Sourcebook (Travel, Weapons & Equipment Lists, Mounts, The Mythos & Weird in 1910, Hotspots, Name Lists, NPC Stats), and a Growing Appendix Full of Ruin Maps, Mansion Maps, Wilderness, Automobile & Road Stats, and NPC Stats for Regions All Over the World. Of course, as with the Adventurer’s Guide, full color illustrated paintings are added to the already beautiful illustrations. The Keeper Guide, at an expected page count of 240 pages, is the perfect resource for keepers wanting a sourcebook for their own mythos campaign.

The Mythos in 1910

Did you see our first teaser video?

Visit Our Website

For more information, go to raidersofrlyeh.com. There is a lot of information there about the game. Keep checking back for frequent updates and previews, as more is on the way!

GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE $20 LevelRAIDERS of R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF (Great deal: this is the streamlined set of rules, combines streamlined elements of both PLAYER and KEEPER GUIDES but includes more sandbox notes, in black and white, perfect for printing, good for Game Designers who want some of the core ideas in the game with an Open License and “hackability,” and Keepers who want even more toolsets)

ANARCHIST $39 LevelRAIDERS of R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION!+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

CONSPIRATOR $49 LevelRAIDERS of R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF for your players(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF (Our first KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE ONE-OFF offering: for those of you that know and love the work of Kevin Ross, at this level you get every PDF released through Stretch Goals plus a Kickstarter Exclusive PDF developed by Kevin Ross detailing “Psychical Research” groups and figures in 1910 Arkham and its neighboring territories. This PDF will not be available outside of this offer except in some of the higher tiers, and may or may not be published in any of the print books we have planned.)+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF +Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF +RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF +all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals

THE PUNDIT’S ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIESEXCLUSIVE $59 LevelARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF (Our second KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE ONE-OFF offering: for those of you that enjoy your Mythos game with more of a sandbox, at this level you get every PDF released through Stretch Goals plus a Kickstarter Exclusive PDF developed by The RPG Pundit detailing Occult groups and figures in 1910 Arkham. This PDF will not be available outside of this offer except in some of the higher tiers, and may or may not be published in any of the print books we have planned.)+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF +Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals

ARKHAM HEADQUARTERS-KEVIN ROSS AND THE PUNDIT COMBO $75 LevelYou want both the Kickstarter exclusive ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF and the Kickstarter exclusive ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF? This is the reward for you. Of course, this package also includes...+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF +Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF +RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF +all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

PLAY A PART IN THE SETTING $129 LevelYou get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and we write you into the setting material somewhere (as the owner of some backwater tavern, an NPC with unsavory skills, or maybe as a merchant captain). We reserve editorial rights when including you into the setting material (so names or nicknames that are anachronistic or inappropriate may be edited at our discretion).+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF+Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF
+ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF+all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

ART OF ADVENTURING $155 Level (Limited to 12)You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and your likeness gets added to the ADVENTURER’S GUIDE plus your name gets used somewhere (as a hero or antihero) in the setting material+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF+Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF
+ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF+all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

ART OF VILLAINY $155 Level (Limited to 12)You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and your likeness gets added to the KEEPER’S GUIDE plus your name gets used somewhere (as a villain) in the setting material+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF+Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF
+ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF+all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

THE HORROR IN THE BOX $350 Level (Limited to 5)You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and a unique limited edition idol hand-crafted by Jason McKittrick, specially commissioned for an important element in the core setting. There will be a small quantity of these made for the launch, and then they are gone (so grab them fast). Each idol will be mailed to you in a unique box (that we recommend you never open if you wish to keep your sanity), and ready for use in your Raiders of R’lyeh sandbox adventure.+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF+Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF+ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF+all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals(Please add $15 for shipping in the U.S., and $25 for shipping outside the U.S.)

SORCERER $1000 Level (Limited to 5)We will write you into the core setting material as part of the powerful cabal of sorcerers operating from behind the scenes. These are the most vile and powerful mortals in the setting, on a level with Joseph Curwen and his cohorts. We will use your name, and work with you to develop the themes and look of your sorcerer (we will do our best to incorporate your ideas, but retain editorial power and rights of ownership of finished material).+Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF+Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF+RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF+ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF+ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF+all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals(Please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Digital offerings will be delivered by December of 2013. Print editions will be delivered by February of 2014. Those people with rewards combining digital and print editions will receive their digital editions by December of 2013 (and the print editions by February of 2014).

Everyone pledging at the 5 dollar level or higher will be granted an opportunity to receive any play test materials offered.

Our first goal is $22,000 to offer a complete digital library of the game and print edition of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE.

NEW: the print edition of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE has been updated to a hardcover with Smyth sewn binding.

After doing quite a bit of research on similar Kickstarter projects, we have decided to focus our attention on THE GAME and the elements that contribute to playing the game. This means we are hyper-focused on making great rules, great art, and toolsets that Mythos gamers want.

We love tchotchkes as much as everyone else, but felt that too many addons dilluted the message and confused the tier structure, and we are devoted to making an amazing end product, whether it ends up as a digital offering, a softcover or a complete suite of hardcover, softcover, pdf and online SRD editions. Of course, we do not consider essential props or music “tchotchkes”, so we may end up with both when all is said and done!

Kicking it Forward

Grassroots projects like RAIDERS of R’LYEH are the perfect vehicle for Kickstarter, which is why we are participating in the “kicking it forward” promise. Simply, this means that after we’ve paid the costs to get Raiders of R’lyeh into your hands, we will be donating 5% of what’s left to other people’s Kickstarter projects.

Who’s involved?

What started as a humble project has grown immensely and I am thrilled to talk about the team of consultants, artists and contributors assembled for this undertaking: THE RPGPUNDIT (theRPGsite, Lords of Olympus, Arrows of Indra) is helping develop the mechanics and contributing writing to the core book and setting material. Entertainment Artist CLIFF CRAMP (Nickelodeon, Lucasfilm, Universal, Disney) is lending his talents to the full-color painted heroes and antiheroes in our Archetype “rogues gallery,” as well as helping to develop the rich visual look of the lost worlds, crumbling empires and seedy environs of our setting. KEVIN ROSS (Writer and Contributor to over 30 publications for Call of Cthulhu including Escape from Innsmouth, H.P. Lovecraft’s Kingsport, The Great Old Ones, and Cthulhu by Gaslight) is a recent addition who is consulting and contributing setting material. And special thanks to KEVIN CRAWFORD (Stars Without Number, Other Dust, Red Tide) for his excellent and inspiring material on running Sandbox campaigns and investigations!

Risks and challenges

The team assembled to produce Raiders of R’lyeh is a highly knowledgeable crew possessing many years of game design, publication, and editorial experience. The two illustrators on the project (one of whom being the lead writer) have in total developed projects for Fox, Disney, Buena Vista, Lucasfilm, Universal, and Nickelodeon. Notable recent projects include a collaboration with Tim Powers, James Blaylock and K.W. Jeter on the publication, Steampunk: The Beginning, as well as the publication design for the Star Wars Blu-Ray release. Our game design consultant is the owner of theRPGsite, one of the largest RPG forums online, and writer of several well-received RPGs (most recently Lords of Olympus and Arrows of Indra). And our consulting scenario writer has had a hand in developing over 30 defining products for Call of Cthulhu.

Projects of this magnitude always face unforeseen challenges, which is why we have assembled experts in their fields to assist in anything that may inevitably arise. We have already minimized risks of production by investing a substantial amount of time and money toward laying the groundwork for an amazing game, including printing and fulfillment strategies.

Lastly, we have a very strong support network of friends with Kickstarter campaign experience, should any issue arise. No matter the challenge, backers will be kept updated with regular summaries of development. In closing, we hope you are as excited to own this game as we are to make it!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $20 or more
About $20

GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE — RAIDERS of R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF (Great deal: this is the streamlined set of rules, combines streamlined elements of both PLAYER and KEEPER GUIDES but includes more sandbox notes, in black and white, perfect for printing, good for Game Designers who want some of the core ideas in the game with an Open License and “hackability,” and Keepers who want even more toolsets)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $39 or more
About $39

ANARCHIST — RAIDERS of R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION! + RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF (please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $59 or more
About $59

THE PUNDIT’S ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES EXCLUSIVE —
ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF (Our second EXCLUSIVE ONE-OFF offering: for those of you that enjoy your Mythos game with more of a sandbox, at this level you get every PDF released through Stretch Goals plus a unique PDF developed by The RPG Pundit detailing Occult groups and figures in 1910 Arkham. This PDF will not be available outside of this offer except in some of the higher tiers, and may or may not be published in any of the print books we have planned)
+ Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF
+ Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF
+ RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF
+ all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $59 or more
About $59

KEVIN ROSS’S PSYCHICAL RESEARCH EXCLUSIVE — ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF (Our first KICKSTARTER EXCLUSIVE ONE-OFF offering: for those of you that know and love the work of Kevin Ross, at this level you get every PDF released through Stretch Goals plus a unique PDF developed by Kevin Ross detailing “Psychical Research” groups and figures in 1910 Arkham and its neighboring territories. This PDF will not be available outside of this offer except in some of the higher tiers, and may or may not be published in any of the print books we have planned.) + Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF + Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF + RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF + all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $75 or more
About $75

ARKHAM HEADQUARTERS — Both ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF and ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF Kickstarter Exclusives —
You want both the Kickstarter exclusive ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF and the Kickstarter exclusive ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF? This is the reward for you. Of course, this package also includes... the RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION + Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF + Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF + RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF + all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals (please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $109 or more
About $109

Three copies of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION + Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF + Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF + RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF + all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals (please add $15 for shipping in the U.S., and $25 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $129 or more
About $129

PLAY A PART IN THE SETTING —
You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and we write you into the setting material somewhere (as the owner of some backwater tavern, an NPC with unsavory skills, or maybe as a merchant vessel captain). We reserve editorial rights when including you into the setting material (so names or nicknames that are anachronistic or inappropriate may be edited at our discretion). + Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF + Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF + RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF + all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals (please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $155 or more
About $155

ART OF ADVENTURING (Limited to 12) —
You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and your likeness gets added to the ADVENTURER’S GUIDE plus your name gets used somewhere (as a hero or antihero) in the setting material
+ Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF
+ Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF
+ RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF
+ all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals (please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $155 or more
About $155

ART OF VILLAINY (Limited to 12) —
You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and your likeness gets added to the KEEPER’S GUIDE plus your name gets used somewhere (as a villain) in the setting material
+ Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF
+ Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF
+ RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF
+ all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals (please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $350 or more
About $350

THE HORROR IN THE BOX $350 (Limited to 5) — You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and a unique limited edition idol hand-crafted by Jason McKittrick, specially commissioned for an important element in the core setting. There will be a small quantity of these made for the launch, and then they are gone (so grab them fast). Each idol will be mailed to you in a unique box (that we recommend you never open if you wish to keep your sanity), and ready for use in your Raiders of R’lyeh sandbox adventure
+ Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF
+ Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF
+ RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF
+ all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals
+ ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF + ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF (please add $15 Shipping U.S., $25 Outside U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,000 or more
About $1,000

SORCERER $1000 (Limited to 5) —
You get a copy of RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PRINT EDITION, and we will write you into the core setting material as part of the powerful cabal of sorcerers operating from behind the scenes. These are the most vile and powerful mortals in the setting, on a level with Joseph Curwen and his cohorts. We will use your name, and work with you to develop the themes and look of your sorcerer (we will do our best to incorporate your ideas, but retain editorial power and rights of ownership of finished material)
+ Full Color KEEPER’S GUIDE PDF
+ Full Color ADVENTURER’S GUIDE PDF
+ RAIDERS OF R’LYEH IN GOTHIC BLACK AND WHITE PDF
+ all PDF expansions released through Stretch Goals
+ ARKHAM OCCULT SOCIETIES PDF + ARKHAM SOCIETIES OF PSYCHICAL RESEARCH PDF (please add $10 for shipping in the U.S., and $20 for shipping outside the U.S.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $4,000 or more
About $4,000

The “You Get ALL The Books and THE PUNDIT COMES TO YOUR HOUSE” Level! You pay it, we play it! 4k gets you the RPG Pundit traveling from his secret enclave in Uruguay to your home, with a copy of Raiders of R’lyeh in tow! Chaos ensues!